Paper-file



M. N. LOV'E'LL,

Paper Fi-le.

No. 230,298. PatentedJ'uIYZO, 1880.

\Nmwaaaa lm/ewm R @VA @M' Pea 7QWC,

N-PETERS. PNOTO-LIYHOGNAFHER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

2 Shee ts -Sheet 1.

M. N. LOVELL.

Paper File. No. 230,298. Patented-July 20,1880.

Wmweaaaa' |Nvaman .&: @W/ 59,; @M @y; 9% p 7&{La1w 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrin.

MELVIN N. LOVELL, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PAPER-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,298, dated July 20, 1880.

Application filed July 16, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I. MELVIN N. LOVELL, of Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsvania, have invented a new and useful Paper File and Case; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention embraces a novel construction of index, and also ,a novel case for receiving and holding not only such index, but the papers, letters, or other objects to be classified, preserved, and bound between its leaves, and also, if desired, for receiving and holding pamphlets, magazines, 81.0., with or without a classifying-file.

The index consists of a set of sheets of cord or other stiff paper loosely connected together at their backs in such a manner that while they are kept from being lost or misplaced they are still free to move from each other so as to receive a large number of papers between any two of them and yet permit the whole to lie flat and smooth, and this whether the number between any two exceeds by a larger amount the number between the others.

The case consists of a rectangular box with a jointed and hinged cover, and with one side of the box or case broken away, so as to leave one edge of the index and contents or other object placed in the case exposed so as to be freely accessible.

My device is shown in the accompanying drawings, as follows:

Figure l is a perspective view, showing the case and the file in place therein. Fig. 2 is a like view of the case when filled and tied up for storing away. Fig.3 shows one manner of constructing the file, and Fig. 4 shows another method of doing the same thing.

The case consists of a rectangular box, AA, and having one of its sides partially cut away, so as to leave the edges of the matterin the file free of access. The cover B B of the box or case is hinged at the top of the back, and the two sections B and B are hinged together, so that one-half of the cover lies flat upon the contents, as shown in Fig. 1, whether the case contains little or much. This keeps the outer edges of the contents flat and smooth at all times, and the contents can be inspected for sorting out any desired part thereof without raising the whole cover. Thedotted lines in Fig. 1 show how a part or the whole of the cover may be opened for getting at the contents of the case.

In the bottom of the case is a tape, D, and a hole, 61, is in the cover for tying the cover down. Any other convenient fastening, however, may be used.

The case when filled, as shown in Fig. 2, may be tied up and stowed away like a book on a shelf, and be marked so as to indicate its contents.

The case may be used not only as a letter and paper file, but as a temporary binder for magazines, pamphlets, 850. In such a use there would be no fastening for the back of the magazine or book, and none would be needed, as the cover B B and thefragment of side A will keep the books in place, and any of them can be removed when desired, which is often desirable, as in case of periodical reports-as, e. The Official Gazette.

It is intended that the case shall be made of paper-board; butit may be made of thin wood, if desired.

The index 0 is made of sheets of stiff paper having offsets c c, as in the manner of indexes. These sheets may be joined together either as shown in Figs. 3 or 4-preferably as shown in Fig. 4, in which they are perforated near the back and strung upon a cord or tape, g. Each sheet is then perfectly free to move from or toward its neighbor, as much so as if they were notjoined together at all; but it is very advantageous that the sheets be connected in some manner and still leavethem free to move from and toward each other, so that any number of papers may be placed between any two sheets and yet keep the top of the pile level. As shown connected in Fig. 4, this can be done; and, as shown in Fig. 3, it is done to a limited extent. in Fig. 3 the leaves are attached to a plated sheet of paper, f, which, as the sheets are separated from each other, opens in the manner of a bellows.

Many of the features above described are not new. It is not new to so secure theleaves of the file that they can move freely from or toward each other. It is not new to form the cover in two sections jointed together so as to allow one part to be raised to get at the edge rectangular it is more convenient when lying on the desk for use, as objects can be laid upon it, if desirable, and will not tip or slide off. It also protects the corners of the file and prevents them i'rom being dog-cared. The

above feature, together with the jointed and hinged cover, makes my device very convenient as a file for pamphlets, as above set forth,

an adaptation not at allconvenient in other .20 filing-cases with which I am acquainted.

What I claim as new is A device for filing and protecting papers, 860., consisting of a series of filing-leaves and a box or case having three of its sides com- 25 plete and the fourth Wall extending only part way across the side, and having a cover jointed substantially as shown and hinged to the top of the back wall of said box and falling loosely within the other walls, substantially as and 0 for the purposes mentioned.

In testimony whereof I, the said MELVIN N. LOVELL, have hereunto set my hand.

MELVIN N. LOVELL.

Witnesses JNo. K. HALLOOK, JACOB F. WALTHER. 

